Business licensed for the purpose of auctioning salvage motor vehicles.

General Information & Requirements

Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealer Application (Word)

Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealer Application (PDF)

The PDF reader may be downloaded, free-of-charge, from the Adobe Systems Incorporated Internet site. Click HERE to download the PDF Reader.

Business

Must have an established place of business that is permanently and physically separated from a home, or personal residence, a motor vehicle dealership or pool, or a salvage motor vehicle auction.

• At least one area, under permanent roof, large enough that motor vehicles may be moved through, and where such motor vehicles may be offered at auction.
• The office and auction shall be clearly identified, easily accessible, and open for business a minimum of 20 hours per week, at least 10 of which shall occur Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It shall be open to the general public ONLY when a public auction of repossessed motor vehicles is being conducted.
• An office area that is permanent in nature. The office shall be neat and orderly and must include a landline telephone number (not a cellular phone) in service at all times that is used at the auction facility's office, is listed in the local telephone directory, and answered in the name of the motor vehicle auction owner, electric lighting, and heating.

Sign

Motor vehicle salvage dealer, salvage motor vehicle pool dealer, or salvage motor vehicle auction facility shall be equipped with a suitable sign, properly maintained, prominently displayed, and permanent, at or near the entrance to the facility identifying the ownership of the business in the same name in which the application is filed. Sign letters identifying the business shall be no less than six inches high unless otherwise approved by the registrar of motor vehicles.

Records

Must maintain records of all motor vehicles purchased, leased, and sold. Refer to Ohio Revised Code section 4501:1-3-04 for the list of the required records.

Application

Financial statement information, indicating a net worth of at least $20,000.

Photos: Photographs of the business location's lot, office, (inside and outside), and business sign.

Send as attachments in JPG format only, may be e-mailed to dealerphotos@dps.state.oh.us. Please include your business name and county name or county number in the subject of your email.

License
Eligibility

Any felony conviction or any misdemeanor conviction related to dealing in motor vehicles is reason for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to DENY the application.

Plate
Eligibility

Salvage auctions are eligible for special plates (optional).

Relevant Code Sections

Inspections

An on-site inspection of the premises will be conducted by a BMV investigator to determine if the location meets all physical requirements. Once a license is issued, the dealership is subject to random inspections, including pertinent records, to confirm that compliance is being maintained.

Fees